One of Rossendale's oldest flower shows is in danger of ending unless a new committee is prepared to take over.

The current 'team' guiding Bacup and District Horticulural Society's annual show is standing down: Jack Taylor, president, his wife Vi, who is secretary and treasurer, and chairman Harry O'Neill are all in their 70s and have decided it is time to retire.

Harry has been involved for 37 years and both Jack and Vi have been committee members for 36 years.

And after Saturday annual show at the 2nd Rossendale Scout room in Burnley Road, Bacup, Vi said: 'We don't know what is happening until the annual general meeting on 8 October.

'We are all resigning and there will be nobody left on the committee. This could be the last show unless someone wants to take it over. Jack and I are now going to start acting our age!'

The show is believed to have started in the 1890s.

Harry said: 'There used to be three shows held in the Mechanics and we would finish at 8pm - now there's one and we close at 4pm. There is just not the support.'

Vi said: 'This year's show has been successful. There were 265 entries and most classes had entries, so if the show is the last we will have gone out with a bang!'

Vi is no longer giving flower demonstrations or arranging flowers for weddings - with the exception of her son and her granddaughter. But she will continue as a judge at other flower shows in Rossendale.

Councillor June Forshaw, Deputy Mayor, presented the prizes and said she hoped a new team would come forward to run the show.